McDowell Sonoran Conservancy

06/18/2026

🏺🌵 Lecture: The First Farmers of the Desert 🌵🏺

📅 Tuesday, June 23, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
📍 Mustang Library
📍 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
💲 Free

Who were the first farmers of the Sonoran Desert?

Join us for an engaging presentation from the S’edav Va’aki Museum and learn about the Ancestral Sonoran Desert People, known to archaeologists as the Hohokam, who lived in the Phoenix area more than 1,000 years ago.

Discover how they not only survived, but thrived in the desert by utilizing the landscape, building extensive irrigation canals, and cultivating a variety of crops. Following the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to view artifacts up close.

Presented by Adriana Zavalza of the S’edav Va’aki Museum.

✨ Perfect for history enthusiasts, lifelong learners, and anyone curious about the people who helped shape our region.

Please RSVP below to let us know you're coming!
https://www.mcdowellsonoran.org/event/lecture-the-first-farmers-of-the-desert/ -now

06/12/2026

🌵✨This Week in the Preserve✨🌵
One of our Stewards spotted six mule deer enjoying breakfast earlier this week!

Did you know?
• Their oversized ears can rotate independently and help them detect predators from great distances. Those ears are what earned them the name "mule" deer!
• Instead of running like a horse, mule deer often use a unique bouncing gait called "stotting" or "pronking," where all four feet leave the ground at once. It looks a bit like they're traveling on invisible pogo sticks!
• They are excellent desert survivors, getting much of the water they need from the plants they eat.

Keep your eyes open on the trails. You never know who might be sharing the morning with you. 🌵☀️🦌

06/05/2026

🌵✨This Week in the Preserve✨🌵
The saguaros are blooming at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, and the desert's residents are taking full advantage! This week, a few natives were enjoying the seasonal bounty of saguaro blossoms.

🌵Saguaro Spotlight
Almost every organism in the Sonoran Desert is connected to the saguaro in some way, including humans. These iconic cacti provide nesting sites and shelter for birds and small mammals, while their flowers and fruit serve as an important food source for wildlife and people. Even the saguaro's ribs have historically been used to make tools.
🌵Fun Fact: A 10-year-old saguaro is only about the size of your thumb! Slow and steady wins the race in the desert.

🐦Scott's Oriole Fun Fact: Scott's Orioles are nectar lovers and are often spotted visiting desert blooms, making saguaro flowering season one of the best times to see them.
🐦Gila Woodpecker Fun Fact: These noisy birds are known for their bold personalities. Males are especially protective of their nesting sites and won't hesitate to defend their territory.
🐦Gambel's Quail Fun Fact: That charming topknot plume isn't just for looks. It helps quail communicate with one another as they travel through the desert in family groups called coveys.

🪶 Want to know who’s singing in your backyard or along the trail? Try the free Merlin Bird ID app from Cornell Lab of Ornithology to identify birds by sound, photos, and more, and get to know your desert neighbors one call at a time.

📸 Photo Credit: Theresa Dickinson

06/05/2026

Triple-digit temps are back in the Valley, and the desert doesn’t play around. 🌡️🥾
Last month, Scottsdale Fire crews rescued a hiker and dog near Tom’s Thumb Trailhead after they ran low on water. It’s an important reminder that preparation matters before heading into the Preserve.

Before you hit the trails:
💧 Bring more water than you think you need
🌅 Hike early and finish by 10am
🐾 Leave pets home during extreme heat
🧂 Pack electrolytes and a charged phone
🗺️ Choose shorter routes during hotter days

Know the warning signs of heat exhaustion:
• Dizziness
• Excessive sweating
• Nausea
• Muscle cramps

The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is an incredible place to explore, but safety comes first. In an emergency, call 911 immediately.

Stay smart. Stay hydrated. Enjoy the desert safely. 🌵

Photos by Dennis Eckel

05/20/2026

What does conservation look like in a growing community like Scottsdale?

Our CEO, Angy Shearer, recently joined the Today and Tomorrow in Scottsdale Podcast with SCOTTnow.com to talk about the future of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, why urban conservation matters, and how stewardship, science, and education all work together to protect the desert we share.

It’s a great listen for anyone who loves the Preserve, spends time on the trails, or cares about keeping Scottsdale connected to the Sonoran Desert.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../desert.../id1560402620...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0c9sW7xEBs2imomh2O5o0H...
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEziswSCwtQ

Desert stewardship with Angy ShearerAs CEO of the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, Angy Shearer is helping shape the future of conse...

05/12/2026

When you shop local, you can give local too.
Round up your purchase this May at Paul’s Ace Hardware (Fountain Hills and Via Linda locations) and support the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy—with 10% of donations matched.

Together, we’re protecting the desert right in our backyard.

05/06/2026

Round up at the register this May at Paul’s Ace Hardware (Fountain Hills & Via Linda) and support the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy.

Every small donation adds up—and Paul’s Ace will match 10% of all contributions.

It’s a simple way to care for the desert we share.

04/29/2026

Awesome opportunity to work for the City of Scottsdale! One of your many roles would be as a liaison to the Conservancy! Interested? Apply now!

04/28/2026

📖🌵 The Desert is a Dotted Line: Connecting Taliesin West & Early Scottsdale 🌵📖
📅 Tuesday, April 28, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
📍 Mustang Library
📍 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
💲 Free

Beginning in 1938, architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his apprentices established a winter camp at the base of the McDowell Mountains, now known as Taliesin West.

Join us for a fascinating presentation exploring how the surrounding desert, and the early City of Scottsdale, played a vital role in shaping Taliesin West’s development and daily life.

Archivist Nicole Richard from the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation will share untold stories and primary source materials, offering a deeper look at the connections between architecture, community, and landscape.

✨ Perfect for history lovers, architecture enthusiasts, and anyone curious about Scottsdale’s roots

Please RSVP (https://www.mcdowellsonoran.org/event/lecture-the-desert-is-a-dotted-line-connecting-taliesin-west-and-early-scottsdale/) to let us know you’re coming!

📸 Photo Credit: Aerial view of Taliesin West, November 24, 1949. Courtesy Herb and Dorothy McLaughlin Photograph Collection, Greater Arizona Collection, Arizona State University Library.

04/23/2026

We are proud to share that the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy is officially reaccredited as a Service Enterprise!

This prestigious recognition from AL!VE (Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement) celebrates our commitment to excellence in how we engage our most valuable resource: our volunteers!

Whether patrolling the trails, leading guided hikes, or conducting vital citizen science, our 600+ stewards are the heartbeat
of the Preserve. This reaccreditation, effective through 2029, proves that our organization operates at the highest level of strategic volunteer management.

A special thank you to the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation for their partnership and coaching during this process.

Together, we are ensuring the McDowell Sonoran Preserve remains a treasure for generations to come.